Watson the jewel of Clemson recruiting class

Thursday

Feb 6, 2014 at 9:38 PM

Some analysts believe quarterback Deshaun Watson could take over as the Tigers' starter as early as next season.

By ERIC BOYNTONeric.boynton@shj.com

During their busy schedules on National Signing Day, both 247Sports national recruiting director JC Shurburtt and Rivals national recruiting director Mike Farrell took a few minutes over the phone to dissect some aspects of Clemson's recruiting class.The obvious headliner is Parade First-Team All-America quarterback Deshaun Watson, an early enrollee ranked the 31st best overall prospect by Rivals and No. 41 by 247Sports. The two recruiting experts had slightly differing thought processes regarding Watson, although both agreed he's got a chance to be special.“He's a tremendous kid with super-high character and is going to be a leader for this program,” Farrell said. “Just like Tajh Boyd, he'll be loved by his teammates. He's taller than Tajh and a little more athletic, but he's not quite as accomplished a passer coming out of high school. There are similarities, but I see Watson being used more as a dual-threat to move the pocket and get him outside where he's comfortable as opposed to being more of a pocket guy like Tajh was.”Watson will battle senior Cole Stoudt and sophomore Chad Kelly for next year's starting role in what promises to be the most highly-scrutinized story line during the summer. Shurburrt couldn't predict whether Watson could immediately earn the No. 1 job, but figures it will happen sooner rather than later.“When you look at his prospects of starting, maybe you're not talking about next year, but I think it will be soon,” Shurburrt said. “I like what he brings to the table better than a guy like Chad Kelly just watching those two come out of high school. Watson is just much more consistent in the passing game which is the key to the Clemson offense. He can run when needed, but he's a lot like Tajh in being more of a passer.“If he can get in there and learn it, he can compete and win the job, there's no question about it. He's definitely the jewel of this class and has been committed for a long time and has to be already familiar with what they like to do at Clemson and is definitely the quarterback of the future as things stand now.”Clemson brought aboard three running backs in Adam Choice, who played option quarterback in high school, Daniel's Jae'lon Oglesby and Easley's C.J. Fuller. The Tigers lost starting 1,000-yard runner Rod McDowell while redshirting freshmen Wayne Gallman and Tyshon Dye.“I think Choice will be the guy that steps in and gets carries next year,” Shurburrt said. “He's got a great running back build (5-foot-10, 200 pounds), was timed at 4.4 in the 40 every time he stepped on the clock, and he plays with a toughness. I really like him. Oglesby, if he qualifies (academically), has a lot of ability and could potentially be a surprise sleeper. Fuller (played) cornerback and could be a safety, but he's probably built more like a running back. He's kind of the wildcard and has a lot of versatility overall.”Clemson signed a foursome of four-star receivers in Demarre Kitt, Kyrin Priester (Fork Union Military Academy), Artavis Scott and Trevion Thompson to help offset the early departures of Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant, while expected starter Charone Peak will be returning from a torn ACL.“They met their needs at wide receiver and at quarterback and running back, so I think offensively it's one of the stronger classes in the country,” Farrell said.The Tigers have decent returning numbers along the offensive line despite losing Brandon Thomas, Tyler Shatley and Giff Timothy, and only signed two at that position with Taylor Hearn (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) and Justin Falcinelli (6-foot-5, 300).“Those two guys are pretty good prospects,” Farrell said. “When you take just two, you'd better hope they both pan out. That's what surprised me a little about this class is that they didn't take a couple more offensive linemen.”The Tigers did get a late signing day verbal commitment from the nation's top 2015 offensive tackle, Mitch Hyatt, but it's nearly a year before he can make that official.“Offensive line is such a developmental position anyway that as long as you hit your numbers there, which they have over the last two years, you're going to be just fine,” Shurburrt said. “I think there were other (higher) priorities, especially when you consider they didn't sign a huge class, so you move onto the next cycle and have a Mitch Hyatt and other targets on the offensive line where you try to bolster those numbers.”While there was little drama to the Tigers signing day with some of the biggest names already enrolled and most of the recruits having been committed for a long time without controversy, defensive end Richard Yeargin III was a nice get in the final weeks after being committed to Notre Dame.“If they use him properly as that hybrid defensive end/linebacker type, he can succeed in that role because he's long and athletic,” Farrell said. “I don't think he's a great linebacker (Clemson coach Dabo Swinney stated they intend to start off with Yeargin at the middle spot) and he's too small to be a great defensive end, but if you put him in that hybrid role like (Vic) Beasley, although it's impossible to be Beasley, he could be disruptive in that role.”Shurburtt called Yeargin, Chris Register and Korie Rogers “an impressive linebacker group” with Farrell adding, “I think they hit linebacker pretty good and they were already pretty good in the defensive backfield and defensive line so I expect that to be more of a focus next year. This is clearly an offensive-heavy class and I think that's what they needed.”